Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the genetic determinants of fusidic acid (FA) resistance in MRSA isolated from patients in Kuwait hospitals.

Methods: The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of FA was tested with E-test strips. Genetic determinants of FA were determined by PCR and DNA microarray. Staphylococcal protein A gene (spa) typing and DNA microarray analysis were used to study their genetic backgrounds.

Results: The FA MIC ranged from 2 mg/L to >256 mg/L. Of the 97 isolates, 79 (81.4%) harbored fusC, 14 isolates harbored fusA mutations (fusA), and 4 isolates harbored fusB. Isolates with fusA mutations expressed high FA MIC (MIC >256 mg/L), whereas those with fusC and fusB expressed low FA MIC (MIC 2-16 mg/L). The isolates belonged to 23 spa types and 12 clonal complexes (CCs). The major spa types were t688 (n = 25), t311 (n = 14), t860 (n = 8), and t127 (n = 6) which constituted 54.6% of the isolates. The 12 CCs were CC1, CC5, CC8, CC15, CC22, CC80, CC88, and CC97 with CC5 (45.6%) and CC97 (13.2%) as the dominant CCs.

Conclusions: The MRSA isolates belonged to diverse genetic backgrounds with the majority carrying the fusC resistance determinants. The high prevalence of FA resistance belonging to diverse genetic backgrounds warrants a review of FA usage in the country to preserve its therapeutic benefits.

Keywords: DNA microarray; Fusidic acid resistance; Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus; Spa typing.

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no conflicts of interest.